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A Tour of Scotland with Kids

With spectacular landscapes, dramatic ruins, wild coastal beauty and wealth of culture, Scotland offers so many tempting possibilities that it can daunt first-time visitors. The good news? That also means it’s hard to go wrong. Spend a few days immersed in Edinburgh’s ancient past and modern-day buzz, then retreat to the rural Highlands for a taste of life in the countryside and an eyeful of some of the most stunning scenery on the planet.

Things To Do in Scotland with Kids

Edinburgh

If you have time for only one Edinburgh attraction, make it Edinburgh Castle. Hunkered down on a hilltop, this behemoth presides over the city with all the gravitas of its 1,000-plus-year history. You can take as much time as you like to explore the castle and its museums, but plan on at least one and a half to two hours to get a thorough overview. Try to catch the firing of the One O’Clock Gun, which has gone off every day (except Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday) since 1861.

If you only have time for one Edinburgh attraction, make it Edinburgh Castle

Kids go wild for secret rooms and passages, and they’ll love the Historic Vaults walking tour given by Mercat Tours. With the help of a guide, you’ll get a fascinating, if faintly creepy, peek at Edinburgh’s warren of underground vaults, abandoned in the early 19thcentury and rediscovered just two decades ago. Mercat offers a number of other walking tours as well as ghost tours, if you have older kids who enjoy a good scare.

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Afterward, lighten up at the Museum of Childhood, a quick but fun — and free — detour on the Royal Mile that highlights the evolution of toys over the years. If the kids are game for a more intensive museum visit, pop into the National Museum of Scotland. The collection is vast and eclectic, but excellent kids’ programs and cool interactive activities help younger ones get the most out of it.

Round out the museum-hopping at Edinburgh City Art Centre, which pairs a good permanent collection with rotating exhibits that range from fashion to sculpture to, just recently, Star Wars. With luck, you’ll have a chance to join in a hands-on project with a resident artist.

The gardens and grounds at Dunrobin Castle offer a breathtaking view of the sea

Inverness and the Scottish Highlands

A few hours’ drive west of Edinburgh, Inverness — a hub of the Scottish Highlands — makes a convenient base for one of this region’s signature sights: Loch Ness. Reserve a spot on a Jacobite Cruises boat tour to cruise the waters and keep an eye out for the fabled Loch Ness Monster. Although parents may or may not buy into the Nessie lore, kids will get a kick out of searching for her with the radar monitor that combs the depths of the water. And the setting, with views of evocative Urquhart Castle (an optional stop), is a highlight for everyone.

At Scottish Highland Art, families work with local artist Ros Rowell to paint one-of-a-kind works

For a totally unique glimpse into life in the Highlands, plus memorable time together as a family, book a lesson at Scottish Highland Art, deep in the countryside about 30 minutes from Inverness. Artist Ros Rowell welcomes guests to her cozy studio and does a fantastic job instructing families in different painting techniques, making sure they create pieces they’ll be proud to show off at home.

The classic Scottish itinerary includes a trip to the Isle of Skye or another of the Hebrides, and that’s certainly doable from Inverness. But for a more offbeat coastal excursion, drive north to Spey Bay for dolphin watching and strolling along the bay’s pretty beach. The Scottish Dolphin Centre has a staff of naturalists who can help you spot the sea creatures, plus a small educational center. On the way there or back, make time for a stop at Dunrobin Castle. It flies under the radar compared to big-name cousins such as Stirling and Eilean Donan, but its rooms and gardens are well worth touring, and its small museum displays a collection of taxidermy and Celtic stones.

Where to Stay in Scotland with Kids

We haven’t yet added any Scotland hotels to our portfolio. But for a fantastically quirky yet family-friendly experience in Edinburgh, check into The Scotsman, an upscale property that occupies the former Scotsman Newspaper building in the bustle of the city center. Rooms are spacious, comfortable and well-appointed, and the affable, helpful staff makes the experience that much more pleasant.

Loch Ness Country House Hotel, a short hop from Inverness, is a charming, slightly rustic choice for families exploring the Highlands. Comfy and intimate, with just 15 guest rooms, it offers rooms, suites and garden cottages, as well as lovely common spaces for relaxing over cup of tea or coffee. Kids especially will like the library of DVDs — older kids can settle in for a movie night while parents savor cocktails and couple time in the lounge.

hi Amie, can i also have your contact for the toddler-friendly scotland tour? we have our 20 months baby coming with us to Scotland this Dec and would love to do loch ness, glencoe and highland tour. thanks

Hi. We are an Indian family of four, 2 adults and our 2 children aged 16 &8 yrs. We are planning to fly straight to Edinburg fromNew Delhi this June and cover the best of Scotland in 4-5 days. Then we plan to head onwards to Brussels, London, Paris and end our European escapade withSwitzerland. Can one of your local experts help us in planning our trip? Much thanks

We are here in Edinburgh right now with our 14 Month Old daughter. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We are having a hard time finding ways to take kids this age through tours or even dining for Dinner. We will be here for the next 4 weeks so we have time to look into any suggestions.

Hi Felix – Thanks for using Ciao Bambino! Our focus is on full itineraries and accommodations. If you’d like help booking hotels and activities, we can have a Family Travel Advisor specializing in Scotland reach out in email.

Hi Charlie, thanks for using Ciao Bambino! We work with several local family-friendly companies who offer tours – I’ll have a Family Travel Advisor specializing in Scotland reach out in email to discuss options.

I’m visiting Edinburg with my family on June 8, 2017 with 2 year old and would like to make a 2 day trip to highland, Glancoe , Lochness, Fort williams etc
Could you please advise on the family support tours?

Hi Manali – We can help with tours as part of our comprehensive vacation planning service. I’ll have a Family Vacation Advisor specializing in Scotland reach out via email and explain more about how we work. Thank you!

Hi. I’m traveling to Scotland with my husband and 2 year old daughter fro 17-23 June 2017. We intend to base ourselves out of Edinburgh, but I haven’t been able to find any tours that take us to the surrounding areas that allow toddlers – can you please help?

I am planning to Visit Scotland this late June. The problem I am facing is that all the bus tours are not ready to take along with my 6 months old Infant daughter.
Can you suggest me any bus tour guides who will allow it. We are not weighing private cab tours because of our budget constraints.

We are planning to visit Scotland by end of june for 5d/4n with two kids 16 month n 9 yrs. Can you suggest good bus tour guide who is ready to take kids along as most of the travellers are not allowing kids.
Please suggest
Thanks
Monika

I am planning to visit Edinburgh this year in the end of june. I am travelling with a a 1.5 years old child and looking for a tour company that will allow young toddlers too. Could you suggest someone?

Hi Sunny – Thanks for reaching out! Our focus is on providing full itineraries for parents traveling with kids rather than standalone tour and activity recommendations. If we can be of help with a more comprehensive trip plan, please let us know!